swollen face

[chickenfan]

One of my favourite birds has a swollen face around her eyes and a swollen comb. She has not had any respiratory problems and seems well in herself, but the area all around her eyes is swollen so her eyes are not fully open and I am worried about her. Does anyone have any idea what could be the matter?

 

[Icemaiden]

Hi Chickenfan.
Is it possible that she's sustained a bee or wasp sting?

 

[chickenfan]

Thank you for your interesting reply Icemaiden. I found the inside of her comb was badly cut (I have been away for a few days). I have been treating this and her face is looking much better now. I was very worried she might have something horrible.

 

[Poultryman]

Those symptoms looks like fowlpox. Try doing a google search for images, using "fowlpox" as the search term. See if the images match that of your chicken.

 

[chickenfan]

Yes, I did wonder about fowlpox, but I don't think it was this. She got better quite quickly.

 

[chrismahon]

We've had a Buff Orpington with a swollen face this week Chickenfan. We bought her inside to treat sour crop anyway. Within 24 hours her face was normal. It is clearly an allergy to tree pollen. Not the first allergy we've had either.

Had a Fowlpox scare in the last few months in the UK with a cockerels comb that wouldn't heal, despite all the treatments we had. Within a few months in France the scab dropped off without any further treatment and his comb was perfect -still is.